The words are still gentle; unlike Horatio, James is well aware how close he came to not having any of them. He will take the Hotspur, demasted, he will take Horatio, injured. He will take on his shoulders every name that must be entered in Hotspur's log as fell in action. The guilt does not fall at the lieutenant's feet. It falls at is.
His fingers stroke, aware even in the darkness of the water gathering in Horatio's eyes.
"She was not lost, Horatio. I will not see you court maritalled. Not when you ordered the men to disengage." That was what Matthews had reported, that the order had been given the second before the mast was torn to shreds and their only commissioned officer had been incapacitated.
No, it was James' fault. He has sent Horatio out unsupported, he had failed to ensure the threat of pirates was controlled, he had failed to even provide them with a surgeon. Should anyone deserve a court martial, it was him.
"But I will see you recover, fully. I will see you take a command again, and I will see you earn your Captaincy. You are not the first man to ever come close to losing a ship."
no subject
The words are still gentle; unlike Horatio, James is well aware how close he came to not having any of them. He will take the Hotspur, demasted, he will take Horatio, injured. He will take on his shoulders every name that must be entered in Hotspur's log as fell in action. The guilt does not fall at the lieutenant's feet. It falls at is.
His fingers stroke, aware even in the darkness of the water gathering in Horatio's eyes.
"She was not lost, Horatio. I will not see you court maritalled. Not when you ordered the men to disengage." That was what Matthews had reported, that the order had been given the second before the mast was torn to shreds and their only commissioned officer had been incapacitated.
No, it was James' fault. He has sent Horatio out unsupported, he had failed to ensure the threat of pirates was controlled, he had failed to even provide them with a surgeon. Should anyone deserve a court martial, it was him.
"But I will see you recover, fully. I will see you take a command again, and I will see you earn your Captaincy. You are not the first man to ever come close to losing a ship."